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The differences between consultants and freelancers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a consultant, becoming a freelancer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a consultant has an average salary of $78,912, which is higher than the $59,367 average annual salary of a freelancer.
The top three skills for a consultant include customer service, strong analytical and project management. The most important skills for a freelancer are customer service, web content, and video production.
| Consultant | Freelancer | |
| Yearly salary | $78,912 | $59,367 |
| Hourly rate | $37.94 | $28.54 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 171,733 | 2,088 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
Consultants are individuals who were tapped by a company or an organization to work on a specific activity, depending on their field of expertise. They act as guides for the organization in undertaking projects that are related to their field. Consultants would usually assist organizations in planning, often giving advice when the need arises. They would, at times, take the lead in activities that involve data gathering and interpretation of data gathering results so that they can provide solid recommendations on actions that the organization may undertake. They may also guide the organization in implementing any changes brought about by their consultancy and in evaluating the effectiveness of the changes.
A freelancer is a self-employed individual that provides services for multiple clients at one time and usually earns money on a per-job basis. Often known as independent contractors, freelancers usually set their schedules while running their own business and have a flexible lifestyle. They have the liberty to choose their clients that may be less confined to specific markets or sectors. Freelancers usually find work within the creative industries such as graphic design, copywriting, or photography.
Consultants and freelancers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consultant | Freelancer | |
| Average salary | $78,912 | $59,367 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $107,000 | Between $40,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | L.E.K. Consulting | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a consultant and a freelancer in terms of educational background:
| Consultant | Freelancer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between consultants' and freelancers' demographics:
| Consultant | Freelancer | |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 13.8% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 13% |